“A Child Would Know” by Leddy Hammock
“How would you know?” a child was asked, “If while you were at play,
With several children, new to you, you heard a whisper say:
‘One of these is the Holy child, the Christ Child, come again,
To see if you would recognize your wise and gentle Friend–
Who might appear as boy or girl, with unexpected looks,
With hair and skin and clothes unlike the Christ Child seen in books.’
The child was still a moment, then looked up and smiled to say:
“Of course I’d know the Holy Child. I’d know that right away.
The way that Child treats others, taking turns and playing fair;
The way the Child is kind and good–I’d know that anywhere.
The way the Child would make me feel–I’d be so glad to show
The Christ Child on the playground–someone any child would know.”